Johnson in limbo

Andre Johnson didn't practice again Thursday and, although he did do a little running, coach Gary Kubiak said it will be "a game-time decision" as to whether he'll play against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Johnson suffered a high ankle sprain against Washington two weeks ago and reinjured the same ankle against the Dallas Cowboys last weekend.

Asked if his star receiver is in worse shape than he was last Thursday, Kubiak said: "He did practice last week, so that's a change. Obviously, he's sorer now, but, to say that he's a 'no,' (for Oakland), I don't see it that way. It's not like he didn't do anything today. He did run some."

Johnson was receiving treatment after practice and didn't make himself available to talk about how he was feeling.

Bentley update

Coach Gary Kubiak said Kevin Bentley's arthroscopic surgery "went as good as we thought (it would). He will be back. We're probably looking at a few weeks, but he will be back and help us this year. I think we got a little lucky with what happened."

However, as for what happened to the special-teams captain and backup linebacker, Kubiak couldn't explain.

"He came in the morning after the (Cowboys) game and it swelled on him," he said. "They drained it, which is a normal procedure with him throughout his career. After they drained it, he felt great. He came back the next morning and it swelled up again. So they went in and had to clean it up."

Bentley's injury leaves the Texans even more shorthanded at outside linebacker with Brian Cushing's suspension lasting one more week. But rookie Darryl Sharpton (ankle) did return to practice after missing Wednesday's.

Barber-Nolan tandem?

Free safety Eugene Wilson (hamstring) sat out practice. Dominique Barber is working with the first team in his place, but coach Gary Kubiak said both Barber and Troy Nolan would share duties "if Eugene can't go."

Kubiak said Barber, a third-year pro, "is further along as a player" than he was a year ago when he had to step in for six games when Wilson had a knee injury.

Paymah confident

"There's a lot of the same scheme and footwork on the defensive side," he said.

Paymah, a Minnesota Viking in 2009 and most recently with San Francisco during the preseason, is expected to contribute on special teams and he's confident that he will.

"I'm pretty much known for flying down there," he said. "Most of the time (the return men) are going to fair catch. If they don't, they're going to pay for it. I make plays all over the field. I don't keep track. I just go out there and make a play."

Friendly rivals

Receiver Kevin Walter calls Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugah "the best corner in the league right now." He also said Asomugah is classy guy who never fails to offer encouragement after a game.

"He always comes and talks to me," Walter said. "He knows that I go out there and work hard. He deserves a lot of respect. I respect him on and off the field. He's a heckuva player."